[SOLVED] BSOD while playing music

[computer-noob]

Good Day, professionals

I am new here. In fact, I am new to forums generally, to technology, to problem-solving, and (luckily up until yesterday) to the famous Blue Screen of Death. This is why I aptly named myself Computer-Noob. I ask your patience with me, and to please use layman terms, because I am not familiar with the backdoors of this amazing machine.

As for my problem, I understand that my computer is full of issues, and that the main reason for that is that I take very bad care of it, and I mess with things I don't really understand. Although the computer is full of problems, and I am the main reason in all of them, I am here to discuss only the most recent of these problems, and the one I cannot find a way to solve myself. Normally, I look up problems on google, but it appears every post related to BSOD is full of technical terms that I couldn't keep up with, and required the download and running of many applications I am not familiar with.

I've been running on this computer for a while now, and it isn't old or weak or broken down, so the Blue Screen of Death seldom showed up. Yesterday, I was installing the Sims 3, and while waiting for the long process, I played some music using VLC player. The BSOD showed up, and the PC restarted. Then, I uninstalled whatever files I had installed, and ran the installation again, this time going AFK. Later that night, I again played music, and after a good 5 minutes, the PC against gave me the BSOD. Today morning, I updated VLC, and then played music, and the same happened. To test whether the music was the cause or whether it was overloading the pc, or some other cause, right after the PC restarted, I did nothing but play music, and without any surprise, BSOD. When it restarted for the last time, I opened Mozilla and started searching for a solution (it's been about an hour now, and no BSOD). Finding it is no simple thing, I registered on the forum, and I am writing this message now.

I ran the tests required and attached the results. Whatever I normally keep open when I am on the PC I kept open while running the tests (ie: Mozilla, Facebook Messenger, etc) except for -of course- the cause of the problem, music. I feared if I played music, the pc would crash while the tests were running.

I don't know what the problem is exactly. I used to be able to play music all I want. I haven't tried using another music player, although I feel like that would fix the problem, but I still wanted to know what caused the problem to begin with. I don't think it was The Sims 3 (which I ended up uninstalling anyway). I think the reason might be driver related more than program related. I don't really know anything about drivers however. I will try my best to follow instructions. I don't know what else to say, so I will now look for the required information.
· OS:
· Windows 7
· 64 bit
· it was the original
· came preinstalled
· I bought my PC around 2 years ago
· my pc broke down, so I sent it to get fixed, and the OS was reinstalled around June, 2013

· CPU - Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2410M CPU @ 2.30 GHz 2.30 GHz (with Turbo Boost up to 2.90 GHz)
· Video Card - Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000 (1280 MB Dedicated Video Memory)

I also have AMD Radeon Catalyst Control Center
​

· Motherboard - sorry, I don't know how to find out about this, and google wasn't very helpful

· System Manufacturer - Sony VAIO
· Laptop Model - VPCCA15FA

Now I will use Drvier Verifier,,

Thanks in Advance for your reply, your time, your help, and this website

 

[computer-noob]

I ran Driver Verifier as instructed HERE

I followed the directions to the point, and I rebooted my PC.
The PC started, and shortly after it opened (in a matter of seconds), the BSOD appeared. Of course, there was nothing I could do when starting Windows normally, so I started Windows in Safe Mode, and I reset Driver Verifier. I then rebooted my PC, and no BSOD appeared. At this point, I assumed that this is what was called a Verifier Enabled BSOD, although I don't recall that term appearing. I am attaching an archive with all the files in c:\Windows\Minidump.

If I am not advised otherwise, I will try and proceed with the suggestions in Step 6 HERE

 

[computer-noob]

I tested my pc one more time (I know no one has asked me for it, but I am keeping a log of this problem and its occurrences so that when someone comes for my aid, he has less of a problem gathering intel.

After the PC was on (without crashes) for more than an hour, I opened VLC, and in about 5 to 10 minutes of playing music, BSOD. :banghead:

IRQL_GT_ZERO_AT_SYSTEM_SERVICE

I am still going to test the following variables:

• playing a 10 mins+ video on youtube (in progress)
• playing my music playlist on Home Media Player
• playing a movie on VLC Media Player
• playing the music/video on VLC using an earlier version (I recently downloaded 2.0.8) - [I won't do this is youtube or HMP cause the PC to crash]

I also didn't keep in mind if there is any difference between playing one file that was over 10 minutes long, or multiple files that sum up to more than 10 minutes.. on youtube, I am playing one file. On VLC where the problem occurs, it is multiple files. I will use multiple files for HMP.

 

[computer-noob]

It's not youtube. It's not another player. It only happens in VLC. I uninstalled VLC 2.0.8, and will download and try 2.0.7
I will post an update after I get done with that.

I read that even if the trigger is VLC, the problem should be driver-related. But I don't know how to update my drivers. Normally, I download windows and VAIO updates when my windows-update and vaio-update tell me to. I looked around device manager for problems, found one yellow exclamation mark (said something about bluetooth) and I uninstalled it and disabled my bluetooth. I also updated a driver that had something to do with my wireless switch, despite that it said it wasn't signed.

I hope the problem is fixed. It appears VLC causing BSOD is common, but I couldn't find anyone who's managed to solve that problem, and all threads have dead ends (much like this thread right now)

 

[computer-noob]

So, I know this is pretty weird, but I solved it. After checking my drivers, uninstalling VLC 2.0.8 and installing 2.0.7, I decided to give my system a clean shave before restarting. I downloaded CC cleaner, and I went through all the available processes (except for the last one) and then I restarted the PC.

Then I played music on VLC 2.0.7 and it has been playing for 4 hours straight with no problem whatsoever. I never pinpointed the problem. It could be drivers. It could be .net framework, which I installed 4 days ago, uninstalled yesterday, and now CC Cleaner has erased it completely (it had left traces).

I just hope to never see that dreaded screen again. I still would appreciate knowing exactly what was causing the problem if anyone ever checks out the attachments.

Thank you.